1789. CONVENTION, National Republican.—[further continued].
I have been, above all
things, solaced by the prospect which opened
on us [in the Presidential contest in 1801] in
the event of a non-election of a President;
in which case, the Federal Government would
have been in the situation of a clock or watch
run down. There was no idea of force, nor
of any occasion for it. A convention, invited
by the Republican members of Congress, with
the virtual President and Vice-President,
would have been on the ground in eight
weeks, would have repaired the Constitution
where it was defective, and wound it up
again. This peaceable and legitimate resource,
to which we are in the habit of implicit
obedience, superseding all appeal to
force, and being always within our reach,
shows a precious principle of self-preservation
in our composition, till a change of circumstances
shall take place, which is not
within prospect at any definite period.—
To Joseph Priestley. Washington ed. vii, 374.
Ford ed., viii, 22.
(W.
March 21, 1801)
